The typical dwelling gets struck by lightning once every 800 years, according to Meteo France, but the Eiffel Tower is struck by lightning 10 times every year. The tower's owner, the city of Paris, who takes care of maintenance and security at the site, warns people not to stand under or next to the tower when storms approach because it could be taken for vandalism if someone was to damage the lightning rod system.
The tower was built in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel for the World's Fair in Paris. It was designed as a monument to the French industry and technology after they won the Battle of Sedan against the Germans. Today, it is one of the most popular attractions in Paris and has become a symbol of the city itself. In fact, it is believed that if the tower were to disappear, so would Paris' reputation as a capital city. Thus, it is worth knowing that the tower has been struck by lightning 10 times since it was built.
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According to Meteo France, the Eiffel Tower is hit by lightning about ten times every year. How much time does it take to repaint the Eiffel Tower? The Eiffel Tower is scheduled to be repainted in October, a labor-intensive project that will take three years and 60 tons of paint to finish. But first, a color must be selected. The current red color was chosen in response to French heritage laws which require buildings over 100 years old to be painted with red lead paint if they are to remain standing.
The tower is painted back in its original color after three years. Although this may seem like just a cosmetic change, it is not. The tower's color affects how visible it is at night, so changing the color allows for better visibility during stormy weather or at night. The base of the tower is also painted in black as part of its design; this adds to its appearance from a distance.
In conclusion, the Eiffel Tower is prone to lightning strikes because of its unique construction material (metal) and location (clouds provide a safe harbor for electricity). If you're going to Paris, keep an eye on the news before you go so you know what kind of weather to expect there and take necessary precautions (such as staying indoors during storms).
The Empire State Building serves as a lightning rod for the surrounding region, and it gets struck by lightning an average of 23 times each year, according to the Empire State Building's official website. The building is protected by automatic lightning rods attached to the top of the antenna masts that connect to the building's electrical system.
In addition, human staff members at the Empire State Building are provided with double protection in the form of employee lightning rods installed over their regular ones when they're hired. These special rods attach directly to the worker's body and will disconnect from it if the person being guarded becomes too far away (typically more than 20 feet) or if they try to leave their post.
If you work at the Empire State Building or plan to visit there during a storm, be sure to take all necessary precautions. Most importantly, if you see blue-green lightening or hear thunder while inside the building, go immediately to a safe place outside. If there is no safe place to go, sit down and protect yourself from further injury by placing a book or something else heavy over your head and neck.
Also keep in mind that most buildings around the world designed before the Empire State Building was constructed were not built with protection against lightning in mind. So if a storm strikes near a tall building where people are working, the damage could be severe.
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